It’s easy to see why this film didn’t receive widespread praise, even though it draws directly from a genuinely disturbing real-life occurrence. Some viewers are only concerned with entertainment value and overlook the importance of social awareness because they live detached lives. Another factor is that while there's nothing technically flawed—the acting, directing, or any other technical element—the narrative itself doesn’t translate well to film format; it would have been better suited as a documentary. Interestingly, this movie shares similarities with the 2011 Korean film 'Children...' which was also inspired by a true story involving missing children. Both events unfolded in the early nineties. The film feels more like something that belongs on television than in a cinema. There’s even a documentary series based on the same events, and it was reportedly well-received according to audience feedback and critical response, alongside several published books. ‘‘My son is 8-year-old. He sleeps with a night light on, he did not run away from home.’’ A film ideally needs (1) a compelling narrative foundation, (2) characters who evolve throughout the story, and (3) some kind of resolution—whether it’s unexpected, happy, or sad—to provide closure. What's wrong with this one? It falls short in developing either the storyline or the characters, stretching out without offering any real progress while you anticipate something significant happening. The truth about what occurred remains unknown, and those who do know are reluctant to speak openly due to their involvement. I’m struggling to form a definitive opinion because of these issues, but I will acknowledge that it might be worthwhile for those unfamiliar with the case. Rather than focusing on any one character, the storytelling largely adopts Colin Firth’s perspective, which feels more like a cameo appearance—present simply to indicate his presence rather than actively participating in the action. You can approach rating this film in two ways: based on the true and disturbing story it portrays, or as a disappointing cinematic experience. I tend to appreciate productions like this because they allow me to learn about cases such as the ‘West Memphis Three.’ I hope future films handle the material with greater cinematic skill.

Source on TMDB